Shoring device for boats



Get. 17, 1967 J. ZAK

SHORING DEVICE FOR BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1964 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ZAK ATTORNEYS J. ZAK

Oct. 17, 1967 SHORING DEVICE FOR BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1964 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ZAK ATTORNEYS UCIZ. 17, 1967 ZAK SHORING DEVICE FOR BOATS S Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1964 INVENTOR. J05 E PH ZA K BY 3 gm 6 ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for supporting boat hulls and the like having pad means for supportingly contacting the undersurface of a boat hull and means for adjusting the pad means for acommodating a variety of hull configurations.

The present invention relates to a boat hull supporting apparatus and more particularly to a single apparatus capable of supporting boat hulls of different configurations.

It has been common practice in the past to shore boat hulls for storage and/or repair purposes by a system of timbers and wedge elements. These systems were typically constructed for a particular boat hull configuration and subsequent to their use for supporting a specific boat hull, the systems were dismantled and the parts were subsequently used for building up another supporting system. Such systems have a number of disadvantages, among which is the expense in time and labor necessary for their construction and subsequent dismantlement. Also, since such shoring devices are typically constructed for the accommodation of only a particular boat hull configura tion, the supported boat may not be repositioned thereon without substantial alteration of the position of the supporting elements.

An object of the present invention is to provide a single boat supporting or shoring apparatus which readily accommodates boat hulls of different configurations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat hull supporting apparatus which may be easily and economically manufactured and installed.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a boat hull supporting structure which may be satisfactorily used for supporting boats on a fixed installation such as drydocks; or, alternatively, may be used on a mobile installation such as on the bed of a truck, trailer or the like.

These and other objects of the invention may be achieved by a boat hull supporting apparatus comprising at least a pair of upwardly extending elongate mounting frame members positioned on opposite sides of the hull to be supported, said members mounted on a supporting surface; pad means for contacting the under surface of the boat hull to be supported; longitudinally extending means having one end thereof pivotally connected to said pad means; coupling means pivotally interconnecting said longitudinally extensible means to said frame members to enable said extensible means and said pad means to pivot about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mounting frame; and a locking means for effectively preventing relative movement between said extensible means and the frame member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from reading the following detailed description of apparatus incorporating the novel features of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a supporting apparatus embodying the features of the invention illustrating the manner in which a sailboat hull is supported;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the supporting elements illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2 with the extensible member thereof removed to more clearly illustrate the pivotal mounting and adjusting elements;

3,347,543 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of another boat hull supporting apparatus embodying the features of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the boat hull supporting portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the pivotal mounting base plate;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the invention showing apparatus with means for positioning the boat hull contacting means at various vertical positions;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 8 taken along line 9-9 thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 10 taken along line 1111 thereof.

Referring to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a boat hull supporting apparatus suitably secured to a base 10, which may typically be the bed of a mobile vehicle, dock, floor, etc. The boat hull supporting apparatus is disposed in supporting relation to the hull 12 of a sailboat, for example. It will be understood that only a single structure for supporting one portion of one side of the hull of a boat is shown and described herein; however, in actual practice and use of the invention, at least a pair of such apparatus are used, one on each of the opposed sides of a boat. Although reference is made throughout the description that the supporting apparatus is used for supporting a sailboat, it will be understood that satisfactory results are likewise achieved in the support of boats of different types, such as cruisers, and the like.

The supporting apparatus of the invention includes a mounting frame generally indicated by the reference numeral 14, which is comprised of a pair of spaced apart parallel members 14 and 14". The lower ends of the members 14' and 14" of the mounting frame member 14 are pivoted to the surface of the base 10 by brackets 16 and 16", respectively. The other or upper ends of the mounting frame members 14 and 14" are pivotally connected at 18 to the upper end of a pedestal member 20. The lower end of the pedestal member 20 is pivotally connected to the upper surface of the base 10 by a bracket 22. It has been found that satisfactory results have been achieved by fabricating the members 14', 14 and the pedestal 20 from channel-shaped metal members; however, it will be understood that other structural forms could be likewise satisfactorily employed.

Mounted at spaced intervals on the outer face of each of the members 14' and 14" are pairs of cooperating bracket members 24 and 26, respectively. The bracket members 24 and 26 are substantially identical with one another and in fact, are mirror images of one another. Each bracket member 24 and 26 is generally of L-shaped configuration having horizontal portions 28 and 30 respectively, which are suitably secured to the outer faces of the frame members 14" and 14' respectively, as for example, by welding. The upstanding portions 32 and 34 of the bracket members 28 and 30, respectively, are provided with journal means 36 and 38 respectively, for pivotally mounting the boat hull contacting and adjusting mechanism, to be hereinafter more fully described in detail.

Horizontally disposed tubular arm members 40 and 42 of a generally cross-shaped member 44 are mounted for pivotal movement in the journal portions 36 and 38 of the bracket members 24 and 26 respectively. A longitudinally extending tubular member 46 integral with the 3 arm members 40 and 42 is adapted to receive an externally threaded shank element 48 which is held theree within between an adjusting nut 50 and a locking nut 52. The end of the threaded shank member 48 most closely adjacent the adjusting nut 50 is provided with a pivotally mounted boat hull supporting pad member 54. The pad 54 may be typically connected to the one end of the threaded shank 48 by means of a pivot pin 56. Manifestly other universal pivotal mountings may satisfactorily be employed for interconnecting the pad member 54 to the threaded shank 48.

A pair of laterally spaced parallel adjusting plates 58 and 60 are secured to and depend from opposite sides of the outer peripheral wall of the tubular member 46.

The adjusting plates 58 and 60 are formed with a p111- rality of mating holes 62 which are adapted to align with apertures formed in theiside walls of the mounting frame members 14' and 14". When the apertures in the mounting frame members '14 and 14" are caused to align with a pair of the mating holes 62 in the adjusting plate which.

may be effected by the pivotal movement of the member 44, a locking bar 64 may be inserted to restrain any relativemovement between the tubular member 44 and the associated mounting frame members 14' and 14'-.

In preparing .the above described apparatus for the support of. a boat hull, theangular disposition of the longitudinal axis of the threaded shank 48 is initially ad. justed by pivotal movement of the cross-shaped member s 44 within the spaced brackets 24 and 26. Upon arriving at the desired disposition, the locking bar 64 is inserted into the aligned holes in the mounting frame members 14' and 14" and the holes 62 of the adjusting plate 58. Then, the longitudinal adjustment of the threaded shank member 48 and associated pivotally mounted pad 54 is achieved by cooperative movement of the adjusting nut 50 and the locking nut 52. Assuming that it is desired to extend the pad 54 farther away from the mounting frame 14, the locking nut 52 is loosened and the adjusting nut 50 is tightened until the desired degree of extension is achieved. It will be obvious that longitudinal adjustment of the pad 54 may also be satisfactorily effected by loosening the nuts 50 and 52 and then rotating the shank 48 relatively thereto until reaching the desired position, and finally tightening the locking nut 52 to effect the desired permanent positioning.

The adjustment of the elements of the apparatus thus far described can be readily changed to accommodate a wide variety of boat hull configurations by making the simple adjustments described above. However, in the event it is desired to support a boat hull of a considerably flatter bottom configuration than that illustrated in FIG- URE 1, the pedestal member 20 can be replaced with a shorter member; or, alternatively, the pivotal base plate 22 can be moved farther away from the base plates 16 and 16" which support the lower end of the mounting frame 14. In either case, the net result is the lowering of the mounting frame and thereby enabling the apparatus to support a fiat bottom boat hull. It will be appreciated that in actual use the mounting frame apparatus on either side of the hullto be supported must be adjusted ac-. cordingly.

Referring to FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a modification of the invention which is particularly suitable for stationary installations such as dry-docks, for example. The boat hull supporting apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 70 is adapted to be supported on a dock or other relatively stationary surface 72. The boat hull supporting apparatus 70 is shown in supporting relation to the under surface of a boat hull 74.

The boat hull supporting apparatus in actual practice includes a plurality of similar units 70 typically arranged in transversely spaced pairs in a number depending upon the size and configuration of the boat to be supported. It will be understood that separate elements of the aforementioned pairs are disposed to support opposite sides of the boat hull. Each boat hull supporting unit comprises an elongate tube 76, the upper end of which is open and the. lower end of which is pivotally mounted to a base mounting bracket 78 (shown in FIGURE 7). The

base mounting bracket 78 includes a generally horizonwhich can be received within the tube 76. Since the.

size of the nut 86 is larger than the diameter of the tube 76, the nut 86 functions to extend or retract the threaded rod 84 into or out of the inside of the tube 76.

The end of the rod 84 which extends out of the tube 76 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a supporting pedestal member 88. The upper end of the pedestal member 88 is provided with laterally spaced depending plates-90 having aligned apertures therein for receiving a pivot pin 92, which extends through a hole in the upper end of the threaded rod 84 to effect the desired pivotal connection therebetween.

The lower end of the pedestal member 88 is pivotally mounted to a base mounting bracket 78', which is identical in structure with the base mounting bracket 78 employed for pivotally mounting the lower end of the tube 76.

A cylindrical socket member 92 is secured to the upper end of the pedestal member 88 and is adapted to receive one, end portion of a cylindrical shaft 94. The opposite end of the shaft 94 is pivotally connected to a boat hull supporting pad 96, which has a pair of depending par-, allel spaced plates 98 secured to one surface thereof. The

spaced plates 98 have aligned apertures therein for receiving a pivot pin 100, which is adapted to pivotally connect the upper end of the shaft 94 to the pad 96. The outside diameter of the shaft 94 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the cylindricalsocket mem ber 92 to enable relative rotational movement of the shaft 94 therein.

In preparing the support apparatus illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 5, 6 and 7 for the accommodation of a particular boat hull, the adjusting nuts 86 are turned to extend the threaded rod 84 and the associated pedestal member 88 so that they are in proper position to permit the pad 96 to conform to the proportion or configuration ofthe hull to be supported. It will be appreciated that the pads are mounted universally so that they may readily and effectively assume the contour of the outer surface of the boat hull 74 and enable the weight thereof to be equally distributed across the surface of the pads 96.

In the production and manufacture of the apparatus heretofore described, it has been found that the structural elements are preferably selected of metal of a size and strength determined by the size of the boat to be supported. It has been found highly desirable to cover the pads in the area in which they are to contact the surface of the boat hull with tough resilient material such as canvas, thus militating against the scratching or marring of the boat hull.

In FIGURES 8 and 9, in which like reference numerals designate similar elements, there is shown a modified form of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment provision is made for. the selective location of the universally mounted boat supporting pads 96 along the length of the pedestal member 88. For this purpose a series of sockets 92 and 92" are fixedly secured to the upper surface of the pedestal 88 along the length thereof. With such an arrangement, the operator places the cylindrical shafts 94 and the associated pads 96 at any height which best accommodates the boat hull to be supported.

FIGURES and 11 show another form of the apparatus for effecting selective positioning of the universally mounted boat supporting pad 96 along the length of the pedestal member. Like reference numerals are used to designate similar elements of the previously described apparatus. The apparatus illustrated employs a pedestal member 88' which is generally U-shaped in cross section. The universally mounted boat supporting pad receiving socket member 92' is secured to and extends from the upper surface of a slide element 102, which is dimensioned to readily slide along the longitudinal axis and within the confines of the pedestal member 88'. In order to effect the desired longitudinal movement of the slide member 102 and its associated socket member 92", the slide element 102 is provided with an internally screw threaded bore which extends completely through the slide element. A longitudinally extending externally screw threaded shaft 104 is supported within the confines of the pedestal member 88', and is adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by means of an externally disposed crank receiving boss member 106. It will be readily appreciated that by turning the boss 106 and the associated externally threaded shaft 104, the slide member may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the pedestal 88.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principles and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically illustrated and described.

What I claim is:

l. A boat hull supporting apparatus comprising:

an upwardly extending elongate mounting frame member, said member mounted to a supporting surface; bracket means on said mounting frame member;

pad means for contacting the under surface of a boat hull to be supported;

longitudinally extensible means having one end thereof pivotally connected to said pad means; coupling means pivotally interconnecting said longitudinally extensible means to said bracket means to enable said extensible means and said pad means to pivot about .an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said mounting frame member;

and locking means for effectively preventing relative movement between said extensible means and said frame member.

2. A boat hull supporting apparatus comprising:

at least a pair of upwardly extending elongate mounting frame members positioned on opposite sides of the hull to be supported, said members mounted to a supporting surface;

pad means for contacting the under surface of a boat hull to be supported;

longitudinally extensible means having one end thereof pivotally connected to said pad means;

coupling means pivotally interconnecting said longitudinally extensible means to said frame members to enable said extensible means and said pad means to pivot about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said mounting frames;

and locking means for effectively preventing relative movement between said extensible means and said frame members. 3. A boat hull supporting apparatus comprising: an upwardly extending elongate mounting frame member, the lower end of said frame member being pivotally mounted on a supporting surface; an upwardly extending pedestal, the lower end of said pedestal being pivotally mounted on a supporting surface in spaced relation with respect to the lower end of said frame member, the upper end of said pedestal being interconnected with the upper end of said frame member; pad means for contacting the under surface of a boat hull to be supported; longitudinally extensible means pivotally mounted on said frame member and adapted to pivot about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof; and means for pivotally mounting said pad means to said longitudinally extensible means. 4. A boat hull supporting apparatus comprising: a pair of elongate mounting frame members; means pivotally interconnecting one of the respective ends of said elongate mounting frame members, the other ends of said frame members mounted in spaced relation to a supporting surface, said other ends being spaced a distance apart less than the combined length of said frame members thereby causing the pivotally interconnected ends of said frame members to project above the supporting surface; pad means for contacting the under surface of a boat hull to be supported; means for universally mounting said pad means to one of said elongate frame members, said means including a socket member connected to said frame member and disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame member, and a rod having one end rotatably mounted in said socket and the other end pivotally connected to said pad means; and longitudinally extensible means attached to at least one of said frame members for effecting longitudinal movement of said pad means with respect to the boat hull to be supported. 5. A boat hull supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including means for selectively adjusting the position of said socket member along the length of said one frame member.

6. A boat hull supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said adjusting means includes a member slidably mounted to said one frame member having an internally threaded bore extending therethrough and an elongate externally threaded shaft received within the threaded bore of said member, said shaft being rotatably mounted on said one frame member to thereby effect selective longitudinal movement of said slidably mounted member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 786,840 4/1905 Prochazka 61-66 3,131,902 5/1964 Zak 248354 3,139,277 6/1964 Mears 269296 3,204,910 9/1965 Gacher 248354 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. J. F. MCKEOWN, Assistant Examiner. 

4. A BOAT HULL SUPPORTING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A PAIR OF ELONGATE MOUNTING FRAME MEMBERS; MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING ONE OF THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID ELONGATE MOUNTING FRAME MEMBERS, THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS MOUNTED IN SPACED RELATION TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID OTHER ENDS BEING SPACED A DISTANCE APART LESS THAN THE COMBINED LENGTH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS THEREBY CAUSING THE PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED ENDS OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS TO PROJECT ABOVE THE SUPPORTING SURFACE; PAD MEANS FOR CONTACTING THE UNDER SURFACE OF A BOAT HULL TO BE SUPPORTED; MEANS FOR UNIVERSALLY MOUNTING SAID PAD MEANS TO ONE OF SAID ELONGATE FRAME MEMBERS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A SOCKET MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME MEMBER AND DISPOSED GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID FRAME MEMBER, AND A ROD HAVING ONE END ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SOCKET AND THE OTHER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID PAD MEANS; AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENSIBLE MEANS ATTACHED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS FOR EFFECTING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PAD MEANS WITH RESPECT TO THE BOAT HULL TO BE SUPPORTED. 